Traveling outside the country as an overseas Filipino worker (OFW)?

The Philippine Overseas Employment Administration will require you to take a pre-departure orientation seminar (PDOS).

PDOS serves as a ‘primer’ for Filipinos set to work in a foreign country, Welfare Officer Eric Paruñgao of the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA), told GMA News Online on Friday.

“PDOS provides critical information regarding overseas employment so the OFWs know what to expect [in their foreign destination]. Para pagdating nila sa bansa, may alam na sila,” the welfare officer said.

“If you have a work visa on your passport and you are registered with POEA then you have to take PDOS,” he said adding that Filipinos migrating to other countries are also required to undergo the two-hour seminar.

Tourists, on the other hand, need not to undergo the orientation seminar, he said.

Paruñgao explained that the seminar teaches OFWS basic things such as:

• boarding a plane,
• how men and women should conduct themselves, and
• the religious policies of specific countries.

Aside from do’s and don’ts, PDOS teaches the workers about the possible consequences of their actions or inactions, he said.

He explained that even experienced OFWs have to attend the seminar because the PDOS is a “constantly evolving program.”

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